Here's a quick look at what's going on in Bel Air, MD -- the seat of Harford County government.   16 Homes Sold in Bel Air, Maryland this past week (zip codes 21014, 21015)         Sales Prices ranged from $163,500 to $910,000         Average Sales Price was $388,317       Average days on the market was 102 08/30/2008

                       2008    2007    % Change Total Sold Dollar Volume: $ 12,005,325 $ 12,771,483 - 6.00 % Average Sold Price: $ 315,930 $ 345,175 - 8.47 % Median Sold Price: $ 328,500 $ 340,000 - 3.38 % Total Units Sold: 38 37 2.70 % Average Days on Market: 106 64 65.63 % Average List Price for Solds: $ 334,648 $ 360,442 - 7.16 % Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price: 94.41 % 95.76 %   The trends in Harford County Bel Air, 21014 are pretty clear, prices have declined. But, we are still selling houses, 38 in July 08 up from 37 foor July 2007.   For a complete list of homes for sale in Bel Air in Harford county MD: Click Here   For all of you Harford County real estate needs contact Kelly Willey, top producing agent, 20 year real estate veteran. Whether you are buying or sel... 08/30/2008

Campus Hills   209 Campus Lakes Ct.   Today I had one of the most seamless transactions of my 20 year career. This lovely 4000 sq ft home sold for $550,000. The loan officer, Steve Barker and the title Rep, Betty Wilson both made this one of the most enjoyable transactions I have ever had. And we did the deal in seven days contact to close!!!!   If you live in Bel Air or any other parts of Harford County I would like to offer the sevices of my team of real estate professionals.   My Web Site: Click Here   Call Kelly Willey for all your Harford County, Bel Air real estate needs.. 08/29/2008

Local Real Estate Activity in Harford County Maryland, Bel Air - 21015(July 1, 2008 - July 31, 2008) WHAT SOLD IN BEL AIR (21015) THIS MONTH? # OFUNITS     PRICE RANGE 0     -     UNDER 100K 0     -     100K - 149,999 1     -     150K - 199,999 6     -     200K - 249,999 7     -     250K - 299,999 3     -     300K - 349,999 4     -     350K - 399,999 4     -     400K - 449,999 3     -     450K - 499,999 3     -     500K - 599,999 1     -     600K - 699,999 1     -     700K - 799,999 0     -     800K - 899,999 0     -     900K - 999,999 1     -     1,000,000 & OVER34    =  TOTAL UNITS SOLDAVERAGE SOLD PRICE = $397,138AVERAGE LIST PRICE FOR SOLDS = $423,765AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET = 150AVERAGE SALE PRICE % OF LIST PRICE = 93.72%TOTAL ACTIVE LISTINGS = 224  *SOURCE:  METROPOLITAN REGIONAL IN... 08/22/2008

Local Real Estate Activity in Harford County Maryland, Bel Air - 21014(July 1, 2008 - July 31, 2008) WHAT SOLD IN BEL AIR (21014) THIS MONTH? # OFUNITS     PRICE RANGE 0     -     UNDER 100K 1     -     100K - 149,999 4     -     150K - 199,999 4     -     200K - 249,999 7     -     250K - 299,999 7     -     300K - 349,999 9     -     350K - 399,999 4     -     400K - 449,999 0     -     450K - 499,999 2     -     500K - 599,999 0     -     600K - 699,999 0     -     700K - 799,999 0     -     800K - 899,999 0     -     900K - 999,999 0     -     1,000,000 & OVER38    =  TOTAL UNITS SOLDAVERAGE SOLD PRICE = $315,930AVERAGE LIST PRICE FOR SOLDS = $334,648AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET = 106AVERAGE SALE PRICE % OF LIST PRICE = 94.41%TOTAL ACTIVE LISTINGS = 290  *SOURCE:  METROPOLITAN REGIONAL IN... 08/22/2008

  I was thinking it might be nice if we posted the best places to buy gas. I happened to run across cheap (????) gas at the corner of route 1 and 136 in Harford county today by accident. And, its pretty sick that I was excited to see gas under $3.50 a gallon. But I was driving up route one on my way to doa BPO for a bank on a foreclosure property and ran across two gas stations the Wawa and Royal Farms, both were less than $3.50 a gallon.   If you happen to run across a cheapy station let me know and I will do the same.   Buying or selling real estate in Harford county, Cecil county or Baltimore county...give me a call I have lived here a very long time and have 20+ years experience in the real estate business.   Visit my site for more information or homes and foreclosures in Harford co... 08/21/2008

REO - Remove Every Option? I had to write about this one today.  Unless you've been living in a cave, you're well aware of the housing crisis in most parts of the country.  Here in lovely Bel Air, Maryland and surrounds, many of the houses currently on the market are foreclosures/bank-owned properties or as we pros like to call ‘em - Real Estate Owned (REO).  These are properties where the owners have defaulted on their loans and the bank has foreclosed. The bank now owns the home.  However, lately, I've personally been calling them Remove Every Option(s). Why, you ask?  Because I never cease to be amazed at the condition of bank-owned properties.   Don't get me wrong, an REO can translate into an amazing deal for a qualified buyer.  However, for your average Buyer's Agent, showing thes... 08/21/2008

This information is meant to be a continuation of my previous blog: http://activerain.com/blogsview/616062/President-Bush-Gives-OK There are many aspects of this new bill that are both confusing and controversial. In order to provide the facts and allow my loyal readers to draw their own conclusions I am providing a link to the Bill itself  in all of its 260 page splendor. If you are interested in reading the final version of the bill,  you can read it by clicking here. Please take a moment and leaf through it.  It is important to understand how these changes will effect you and how they will change the industry once again.   © 2008  Tom Elder     07/31/2008

Wednesday, July 30 2008 By Tom Elder  It was an early morning for President Bush and top administration officials Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing Secretary Steve Preston.    After threats of VETO, minor revisions and a housing crisis for the record books, Bush said that troubled homeowners can wait no longer for relief.    In the early morning hours Bush approved, by signature, what is being deemed the most significant legislation for the housing markets in decades.   This new legislation will allow struggling homeowners, who are unable to afford their payments to refinance into government backed loans which are much more affordable.    This legislation will offer struggling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac temporary financial help.  The relief for these agencies will come throug... 07/30/2008

My husband, Jim, has an uncanny ability to zero in on the best places to eat. So when he said we have to go to Broom's Bloom for ice cream I said....I don't really like ice cream. So after I heard some local Moms say how it was a great hang out to let your kids run around by the corn fields I thought hot dog a hot spot I can relate to. So we took our daughter Jessica and headed on over. There was a line out the door and I thought this had better be good. I must say it far exceeded my expectations and I now know I love ice cream. Not the stuff you buy in the stores but this fresh creamy delicious concotion they make at Broom's....I'm in love, In fact Jessica said could you stop moaning while you eat. This is far and away the best ice cream in Harford county maybe the state of Maryland, ... 07/14/2008

  1702 Beechview Ct   The below lists all detached homes to sell in Bel Air, Maryland, 21014 and 21015 for the last 30 days or Jun 11, 2008 to July 11, 2008. As you can see we are selling a good number of homes, 33. And, 6 are over $500,000. But the most active price range was $400,000 to $499,999 with 11 sales.   If you have a home to sell in Bel Air you can contact me for a full evaulation of the value of your home and i will prepare a 30+ page report for your home.   ListPrice ClosePrice Address Full Baths Half Baths    BR's  Garage   Acres    DOMP 259900 252000   12 LANGFORD PL 1 0 3   0.23246 10 275000 250000   7 FOREST DR 2 0 3 1 0.50218 8 275000 260000   120 ARCHER ST 1 0 2   0.26171 7 285000 277500   1405 MARYWOOD DR 2 1 3   0.23875 4 289900 262500   206 CRAFTON RD 2 1 4 1 0.305... 07/12/2008

Kelly Willey | Long and Foster | 410-937-5561 100 Princeton Lane, Bel Air, MD This is not a typo!!! Single in Bel Air, Harford County, MD 4BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $289,900 Year Built 1971 Sq Footage 1,800 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 9,944 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION You can enjoy living on one floor plus reap the benefits of having a fully finished lower level with 4th bedroom, bath and storage. The upstairs is nicely appointed and boasts 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The kitchen lead out to the deck and lovely rear yard. Located in desirable Bel Air and convenient to many amenities. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Fireplace Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Family room Living room Dishwas... 07/12/2008

To set the tone for this blog, I will tell you that below is an actual email to a loan officer on my team.   They encountered an issue on a purchase money loan that was well "less than perfect" credit.  It was a manual underwrite and most of the people in the transaction were upset to say the least.   This is in response to the loan officer telling me that the listing agent has informed her in a NOT so nice way that they are pulling the contract "if it doesn't close tomorrow" because their client has to settle on another home this coming Monday (5 days from now), and they need the HUD from this transaction to settle on the other.   This email is not to point blame, as I feel the true culprit is a total breakdown in communication and proper expectations being set from the get go.   I am ... 07/09/2008

In April, I talked about the fact that Buyers seemed to be very prevalent in the market place.  They were no longer sitting on the fence and the deals they were getting were exceptional.   Well 2 months later, I'm still the town crier as I run around Bel Air, enthusiastically yelling ",The Buyers are here, The Buyers are here!"   Now is truly an exceptional time in real estate history.  In my many years in the business, I've never seen so many incredible deals for Buyers.  Yep, in case you haven't heard the news, it's a Buyers Market.   If you are looking to buy in Bel Air, Abingdon, Forest Hill, Edgewood, Fallston, Belcamp/Riverside, or any of the many great areas in Maryland -- you need to align yourself with a good Realtor and make an offer on your dream home.  Then start packing, be... 06/27/2008

AVOIDING THE SCAMS OF "FREE CREDIT REPORTS" By Tom Barker   Did you know that identity theft often occurs when you are obtaining your Government Free Annual Credit Report? Therefore, you must protect yourself before you become another victim of America's fastest rising crime.   So How Is Identity Stolen With The "Free Credit Report" Scam?   1.  "Phishing" is the name of one of the primary scams. It has become increasingly popular. It happens when you receive emails requesting your contact and social security number from individuals pretending they are a legitimate company.  For instance, your bank will never request your social security number or private information so that they can verify your account or check your credit.   2.  Another popular way is to go to a website advertising a "... 06/20/2008

Local Real Estate Activity in Harford County Maryland, BEL AIR 21014(May 1, 2008 - May 30, 2008) TOTAL SOLD DOLLAR VOLUME = $10,313,400AVERAGE SOLD PRICE = $278,741AVERAGE LIST PRICE FOR SOLDS = $295,035TOTAL UNITS SOLD = 37AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET = 128AVERAGE SALE PRICE % OF LIST PRICE = 94.49%TOTAL NEW LISTINGS =  87TOTAL LISTINGS PENDING CONTRACT = 25TOTAL LISTINGS SOLD = 37            Single Family & Townhomes = 28            Condos = 9TOTAL ACTIVE LISTINGS = 287              Single Family & Townhomes = 231            Condos = 56 *SOURCE:  METROPOLITAN REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC. - MLS RESALE DATA(Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.)CHECK OTHER ZIP CODE STATISTICAL DATA SIMPLY CLICK HERE SELLING SOON?  If you are considering listing and selling your Harford Cou... 06/13/2008

Local Real Estate Activity in Harford County Maryland, BEL AIR 21015(May 1, 2008 - May 30, 2008) TOTAL SOLD DOLLAR VOLUME = $9,075,045AVERAGE SOLD PRICE = $324,109AVERAGE LIST PRICE FOR SOLDS = $341.494TOTAL UNITS SOLD = 28AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET = 146AVERAGE SALE PRICE % OF LIST PRICE = 94.91%TOTAL NEW LISTINGS =  81TOTAL LISTINGS PENDING CONTRACT = 19TOTAL LISTINGS SOLD = 28            Single Family & Townhomes = 24            Condos = 4TOTAL ACTIVE LISTINGS = 247              Single Family & Townhomes = 186            Condos = 197 *SOURCE:  METROPOLITAN REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC. - MLS RESALE DATA(Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.)CHECK OTHER ZIP CODE STATISTICAL DATA SIMPLY CLICK HERE SELLING SOON?  If you are considering listing and selling your Harford Cou... 06/13/2008

All we hear all day is how bad the housing market is, well yes its down, but homes are still selling, because people are still buying. Yes the market value of homes has fallen, but if you have been in your home for 5, 10, 15 years and you have not used it as an ATM you probably still have more equity than you think. People say I could have sold my house for X but now is Y so I am losing money, WRONG, your house is now worth what someone will pay for it just as it was a few years ago so that is Y but the new home that you will buy is also at Y value not X, so everything is still equal. Homes that are priced correctly and present well sell quickly and for the correct price! If you are thinking about selling let me stop buy and help you make the correct decisions on selling you home. Now i... 06/11/2008

It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood.   The Buyers are bountiful and the deals are beautiful.   What more can I say?   If you're looking to buy a house in beautiful Bel Air or surrounds, "Hello!" it's time. I'm a Real Estate Pro out there in the ranks negotiating fabulous deals for my Buyers each and every day and I'll tell you one thing (and I'll make it short and sweet)-   It's good to be a Buyer now.     About the Author - Lanette Branch is a [self-proclaimed] buxom, doe-eyed, beauty residing in Bel Air, Maryland where she has been negotiating-to-win for buyers and sellers of residential real estate in Central Maryland and its surrounding suburbs for over 14 years. She started as a mere babe. She loves Bel Air and she'll bet her last dollar that you'll love Bel Air, too. What's n... 04/11/2008

Hi my name is Lanette and I'm a Nomophobic. (all in unison) Hi Lanette! I heard about this for the first time on April 1st, so I immediately wrote it off as an April Fools joke. Now, I just saw it on the evening news. So, it must be legit, right? Apparently some eggheads in Great Britain are studying this phenomenon in a real research lab somewhere and it's a valid condition. Around 13 million Britons admit to suffering from Nomophobia. Nomophobia is the fear of being without your mobile phone. I'm serious. It's the fear of leaving it, losing it, running out of battery juice, being in the dreaded no-man's land of "out-of area", or otherwise being in a state of inaccessibility to family and friends. Oh, yeah, I am a Nomophobic. When I realize I left my BlackBerry on my desk (and I am now... 04/03/2008